La bohème

Tour : Between 4 to 12 May 2020. (Of which reserved 7, 8, 9, 10 May for Music Hall Belgium)

La bohème by Giacomo Puccini

Famous tragic opera by Giacomo Puccini in four companies.

Large, full-length production with 120 employees, top soloists, choir and orchestra.

International production by Music Hall in Belgium in a tight, contemporary direction and design.

Sung in Italian and subtitled in English, French, German, Dutch or any preffered language.

Tour : Between 4 to 12 May 2020. (Of which reserved 7, 8, 9, 10 May for Music Hall Belgium)

La Bohème is an opera, two versions of which exist. The best known is the version of Giacomo Puccini, in four deeds. The libretto is written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The other – earlier – version was written by Ruggero Leoncavallo. Both operas are based on Henri Murger’s novel Scenes de la vie de bohème from 1849.

Puccini’s opera was premiered on 1 February 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin. (Conductor: Arturo Toscanini). The work meant an international breakthrough for Puccini. Since the successful premiere, the opera occupies a prominent place in the opera repertoire.

First Act

A young poet, Rodolfo, lives with a painter, Marcello, a musician, Schaunard, and a philosopher, Colline, on a floor in the center of Paris.
Because they have no money to pay the heating, the paper on which Rodolfo wrote a Theatrestuk is thrown into the fire.
Schaunard is lucky that day. He has got a job with an English nobleman.
He brings food and wine. At that moment Benoit comes to pick up the rent.
By feeding him drunk, they know how to work him out again.
The money is used to go to the fair. Only Rodolfo stays behind to work.
Then Mimi is knocking, because her candle has gone out.
After Rodolfo has lit it again, she comes back again because she has forgotten her key.
Rodolfo finds the key, but hides it in his coat pocket, because he wants Mimi to stay for a while.
They talk about each other, who they are and about their lives
(Che gelida manina – What a cold hand / Mi chiamano Mimi – They call me Mimi).
They fall in love and sing a love duet. (O soave fanciulla – O sweet girl).
Together they leave for the fair, where they meet their friends.

Second Act

The fair is in full swing in the Latin Quarter. They are in a restaurant and the children are in the store with their parents. The friends are settled in a restaurant.
Musetta, the former girlfriend of Marcello, flirts with the rich Alcindoro to make Marcello jealous (Quando m’en vo).
When Musetta complains about her shoes, she sends Alcindoro to the shoemaker.
Musetta and Marcello fall into each other’s arms. If the bill comes from the food, the friends can not pay it.
Musetta puts everything on account of Alcindoro and the friends go off.
When Alcindoro returns and the bill is presented, he collapses on a chair.

Third Act

Mimi comes coughing furiously at the city gate to talk with Marcello, who works in an inn near the gate.
She tells him about the difficult life with Rodolfo, who has left her that night.
Marcello says that Rodolfo has just arrived and is sleeping in the inn.
When Rodolfo wakes up and Marcello searches, Mimi hides.
Rodolfo first says that he has left Mimi out of jealousy, but admits later that he is afraid that she
has a serious illness and that she would be better off with a rich lover.
When Mimi has to cough again, she is discovered by Rodolfo. They put it back after a fight.

Fourth Act

Marcello and Rodolfo are back on their floor again. Schaunard and Colline come with food.
Then Musetta and the dying Mimi come.
Musetta and Marcello will buy medicines from the proceeds of Musetta’s earrings.
Colline and Schaunard are going to pledge Collines coat. Mimi and Rodolfo remember happier times.
When Musetta returns, Mimi dies.